The following report comes from the semi-traditionalist but reliable Rorate Caeli blog:

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Yes, he said it over the phone to his favorite journalist, Italian editor Eugenio Scalfari of La Repubblica (the Pope’s daily and favorite newspaper), in a conversation on October 28, revealed by the latter in an editorial published this Sunday.

There is no reason to doubt its accuracy. We are way past the time of doubting the accuracy of the Scalfari quotes.